Courtyard House: Inheriting the Restaurant, the Jia Family Wants to Get It for Free

Qin Huairu collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

On one side lies an abyss of no return, and on the other, a present shrouded in darkness.

What should she do?

"I'll give you a day to think it over!" Looking at her expression, Madam Jia felt a surge of annoyance. "If you still haven't come up with a solution by tomorrow night, don't blame me for being ruthless as your mother-in-law!"

After saying that, Madam Jia ignored her, lay down on her own, covered herself with the quilt, and soon began to snore.

She seemed confident in her ability to manipulate Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu was left alone, swallowed by immense fear and despair under the dim light.

Her mind was in chaos; Jia Zhangshi's vicious words and the baby's cries mingled together, bringing her to the brink of collapse.

She didn't want to do something so immoral, but she also didn't want to be sent back to her parents' home and live a life even worse than what she was experiencing now.

After much thought, she felt she had been driven to a dead end.

Just then, a figure appeared in her mind without warning.

Cheng Shuhai.

Why him?

Qin Huairu herself couldn't explain it clearly.

Perhaps it was the warm light and the aroma of food emanating from his window that night that had such a profound impact on her.

Perhaps it was his repeated crushing of the Jia family and Yi Zhonghai that gave her a strange sense of security.

Yes, it's about a sense of security.

In this courtyard, it seemed that only he could stand up against all the demons and monsters.

A crazy idea rose in Qin Huairu's mind.

Go and beg him!

Tell him about it!

He's so smart and capable, he'll definitely find a way!

Once the thought arises, it can no longer be suppressed.

Qin Huai wiped away her tears, glanced at the sleeping Jia Zhangshi on the bed, gritted her teeth, and made a decision.

night, deeper.

The courtyard was quiet, save for the occasional chirping of insects.

Cheng Shuhai had just put his younger sister Ling'er to sleep and finished washing up, preparing to rest.

The restaurant business has been stable these past few days, and with the help of his younger cousins, he's had a lot more free time.

He was lying in bed, pondering whether to introduce a new dish tomorrow, when he heard extremely faint footsteps coming from the courtyard.

The footsteps stopped at his door.

Cheng Shuhai frowned.

Who could it be so late?

He didn't say anything, he just listened quietly.

The person outside seemed hesitant, standing there for a while before three very light knocks came, as if afraid of disturbing someone.

"Who?" Cheng Shuhai sat up, his voice wary.

A woman's trembling voice, suppressing a sob, came from outside the door: "Brother Cheng... it's me, Qin Huairu."

Qin Huai Ru?

Cheng Shuhai was stunned for a moment.

What does this woman want from me in the middle of the night?

He didn't think there was any connection between the two.

"What is it?" Cheng Shuhai's voice turned cold.

"I...can I go in and talk? This...can't be heard by anyone else." Qin Huairu's voice was pleading.

"No way." Cheng Shuhai refused without even thinking.

Are you kidding me? Letting a married woman into your house in the middle of the night? Especially a woman like Qin Huairu.

He didn't want to get into trouble.

"Just say it at the door. If you have something to say, say it quickly. If not, I'm going to sleep." Cheng Shuhai's tone was very impatient.

Qin Huairu, standing outside the door, was taken aback by his words and stood there, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

She bit her lip, knowing she had no other choice.

Through the door, with tears in her voice, she recounted Jia Zhangshi's vicious plan in detail as quickly as possible.

"...She told me to steal Yi Zhonghai's child and throw him into a mass grave...She said if I refused, she'd send me back to my parents' house...Brother Cheng, I really don't know what to do, I'm scared...Please, help me..."

By the end, Qin Huairu was sobbing uncontrollably.

Cheng Shuhai, who was inside the room, was completely stunned after hearing her words.

Although he had long anticipated that Jia Zhangshi would resort to any means when pushed to the limit, he never expected that this old hag could be so vicious!

They steal children and then dump them in a mass grave!

Is this something a human being could do?

This is no longer a simple neighborhood dispute; it's a blatant crime! And a serious crime punishable by death!

Cheng Shuhai's lips twitched slightly.

This Jia Zhangshi is a complete madwoman!

Qin Huairu, standing outside the door, grew increasingly panicked upon seeing no movement from inside. Her voice trembling with tears, she pleaded, "Brother Cheng, I know I... my family has wronged you in the past, but this time... this time I really have no other choice. Please have pity on me and show me the way!"

Cheng Shuhai snapped out of his daze, walked to the door, and spoke coldly through the door.

"Two paths."

Qin Huairu's crying stopped abruptly, and she pricked up her ears.

"First, listen to your mother-in-law and go steal the child. If you get caught, you're dead. If you don't get caught, you'll never get a good night's sleep for the rest of your life."

Qin Huairu's body trembled.

"Second," Cheng Shuhai's voice paused, then became clearer, "go report it."

"Report?" Qin Huairu was stunned.

"Yes, go to the Military Control Commission or the Public Security Bureau, and tell them exactly what your mother-in-law, Jia Zhangshi, said," Cheng Shuhai said.

"But...but that's my mother-in-law..." Qin Huairu hesitated. "If I report her, what will the people in the neighborhood think of me? How will I ever face them again?"

Cheng Shuhai sneered from inside the door.

"What time is it? You're still thinking about saving face? Your mother-in-law is practically forcing you to kill someone, and you still don't care if she's your mother-in-law or not?"

"Let me tell you, Qin Huairu, you came to me today because you wanted me to make a decision for you, or even to help you resolve this matter, right?"

"Let me tell you clearly, it's impossible. I won't get involved in this, and I can't get involved."

"I've shown you the way; how you choose is up to you."

That's all I have to say. You may leave.

After saying that, Cheng Shuhai ignored her, turned around, walked back to the bedside, and lay down.

He's not a saint; he has no interest in saving Qin Huairu.